Garment press



8. J. LOCKE GARMENT PRESS April 4, 1933.

Filed May 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I gmmto'o II I l s VHF ld m L /w g g I 5: u

Sanfira? JYL'ocl'e S. J. LOCKE GARMENT PRESS April 4,1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 6, 1927 0 0 smgbrci JILocke Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE) SANFORD a. LOCKE, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To UNITED STATES HOFFMAN MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA A E GARMENT PRESS Application filed May a,

"This invention pertains to improvements in garment presses and has for its main obj ect the provision of a simple structure wherein a wide openingof the press is assured while at the same time the head is moved toward and from the buck in a right line during the final pressing movement and likewise in a similar way during the initial releasing movement. By reason of such movements no drag of the head over the goods upon the buck inheres and as a consequence the lay thereof is not disturbed.

Broadly considered this is not of myinvention but the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth is novel an effects like results. v

The press embodying my invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the press with the head in its closed position;

Figure 2 a vertical sectional elevation the press being shown as fully open in the full line position while in dotted lines the head is shown as aligned with the buck preparatory to the final pressing operation; and

Figure 3 a similar view with the press fully closed.

In the drawings 1 denotes the base of the frame surmounted by a pair of members 2 30 and 3 formed'from sheet steel and secured at their upper ends to a bed plate or casting 4. Members 2 and 3' are substantially L-shaped in cross section, the sides being materially longer than the front elements which, as will be seen upon reference to Figure 1,, are spaced apart. Secured to the bed plate is the usual support 5 for the buck 6. The head is denoted by 7 and is secured to the under side of.

the forwardly extending end of an inverted L-shaped frame which, in the instant case, is shown as produced from sheet steel pressed to form, and comprising a transverse body element 8 and rearwardly extending flanges 9 and 10.

In the upper portion of each of the sides of the frame members'there is produced a slot or opening and a cam or guideway fitting 11 is secured to each member at such opening.

As will be noted, the lower portion of the slot or guideway extends upwardly, substan- 1927. Serial No. 189,384.

ti'ally in a vertical direction, the slot'then bemg 1nclined rearwardly and upwardly. To the body 8 there is secured a'pair of lugs or braokets12 one adjacent each edge, the brack ets forming supports for rollers l3 which extend into the guideways. i

A second pair of brackets as l i'are attached to the lower end of the head carrying frame and a radius link 15 pivoted thereto extends from each bracket rearwardly and is pivoted at its rear end upon a shaft 16 mounts ed in lugs 17 at therear' of the base 1.

A pair of springs 18 attached to the pivot pin mounted in brackets 15L extend'upwardly therefrom and are attachedat their upper ends to a fixed portion of the machine. The springs are adjustable and are so adjusted that they tend to elevate the head carrying frame and to hold the same in the position shown in full lines, Figure 2. I

Extending downwardly from the underside of bed plate 4: is a rigid post 19 bifurcated at its lower end and in whichbifurcated portion is pivotally mounted'an elbow lever 20.

,A swivel block 21 is secured in the lower end of said lever and extending therethrough is a rod 22 the lower end whereof is threaded into a coupling 23 pivotally mounted on a shaft 24 secured in a bracket 25*attached to the central portion of, the lower end of the head carrying'frame.

The upper end of the elbow lever 20 carries a shaft 26 and hung on the outer ends thereof is a pair of draw links 2'1 and 28,

the links at their lower ends being pivoted upon a shaft 29 mounted in a tre'adle lever vacuum devices but as they are well under stood in the art it is not deemednecessary to illustrate the same. v i The operation of the press is as follows:

When the press is open, full line position, Figure 2, the operator has free access to the buck to secure proper lay of the goods, the head 7 at such time being well to the rear and out of the way.

The goods being properly positioned, the head may be drawn forwardly by grasping a handle 33 secured to the forward end of the frame, or by depressing the treadle. In so doing the parts will travel from the full line position in Figure 2 to the dotted line position at which time the rollers 13- will pass down the inclined portions of the cam or guideway slots and stand in the upper end of the vertically disposed lower portions thereof. At the same time the forward ends of the radius links swing downwardly close to the horizontal and the head 7 is brought directly over the buck. Further downward movement of the treadle draws the headdownwardly into pressing, relation with the buck, the travel of the head. at such time being in a straight line inasmuch as the outer ends of the radius links 15 swing but a short distance and throughbut a short portion of a large arc. Thus there is no drag of the head across the buck and consequently no displacement of the lay of the goods.

It will of course be understood that to effect the straight or right line downward and upward movement of the head with reference to the buck, the cam slots are so designed as to counteract the radial motion that would otherwise be imparted by the links 15. This may be readily effected by plotting the position of the pivotalpoint, or shaft 2 1, the rollers 13 andthe position of the head with reference to the buck and shaping the cams accordingly.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a garment press the combination of a frame; abuck supported thereon; ahead; a head carrying member to which the head is attached, said 'member having a downwardly extending portion; guideways on the frame adjacent the upper portion thereof,

said ways having lower portions substantial- 1y vertically disposed merging into upwardly and rearwardly inclined'portions; rollers carried by the head carrying member and extending into the guideways; at least one radius link pivotally secured to the lower portion of the head carrying member, said link being'pivotally secured at the 'rear of the frame; springs normally acting to elevate the head carrying member; and operator actuated means for forcing the head carrying frame downwardly. v

2. In a garment pressthe combination of a frame having spaced side elements; a buck mounted on said frame; a head; a head supporting member, said member at its upper end having a forwardly extending portion to which the head is attached; a guideway upon each side element adjacent the upper whereof is substantially vertically disposed and then extends rearwardly and upwardly therefrom; rollers carried by the head supporting member and extending into the guideways; a pair of radius links pivotally connected to the lower portion. of the head frame, said links extending rearwardly thereof to a pivotal connection at the rear of .the frame; spring means acting upon the lower end of the head frame tordraw the same upwardly; and operator operated means acting on the head frame in opposition tothe spring means to force the head frame downwardly." i

3. In a garment or laundry press,the combination of a buck, a movable pressing head, movable supporting means forthe pressing head, guiding means associated with said movable supporting means at a point above a lower portion of the movable supporting means to impart a substantially straight movement to the pressing head as the head passes through the lastportion of its'pressing movement, linkage connected to the low er portion of the movable supporting means and to a substantiallyfixed portion of the press, and means for actuating'the movable sup-porting means, including toggle .means forming part of the linkage, said toggle means adapted to straighten vertically to draw downwardly on the pressing head.

1. In a garment or laundrypress, a frame, a buck thereon, a movable pressing head adapted to coact with the buck, swingable upright means having its upper end attached to the pressing head, a movable pivot means disposed in the lower portion of the frame substantially under the buck and on which the lower'portion of the'swingable upright means is pivotally supported; guiding'means above the movable pivot meansand cooperating with the swingable upright means to impart'a compound motion,evertically and laterally, to the swingable upright means and the pressing head; and operating means to actuate the swingable upright means to. open and close the press, including a radius link and toggle means which move into straight line vertical position to close the press.

5. In a garment or laundry press, a machine frame composed of spaced-upstanding parts, coacting press jaws including a head andbuck,-each of said spaced frame parts having compound motion guideways therein formed and disposed to the rear of a line dropped vertically of the jaws includinga lower vertical and upper rearwardly'extend; ing guide portion, the two guideways being horizontally spaced apart, a roller adapted to travel ineach guideway, an upright disposed. to the rear ofthe jaws and having an upper end extending forwardly and attached to the head and including av downwardly extending portion disposed substantially between the horizontally spaced guideways and extending into the frame between the spaced upstanding frame parts, journal means on which the rollers are carried and the journal means being attached to the upright to carry the latter on the rollers and guideways, radius links horizontally spaced apart and disposed below the guideways and the rollers, and having their one ends connected to the machine frame and their other ends to the upright, and operating means connected with the radius links to swing them upv and down on their frame pivots, including toggle means cooperating with the radius links, said toggle means disposed under the press jaws and adapted to move into vertical position to draw downwardly on the upright to close the aws.

(3. In a garment or laundry press, a press frame including spaced upstanding parts in each of which is formed a compound motion guide including a vertical and lateral guide portion, the two guides being disposed in horizontal spaced relation, a coacting press head and buck disposed above the vertical guide portion, swingable upright means disposed to the rear of the frame and having an upper portion curved forwardly and attached to the head and a lower portion extending downwardly between the spaced frame parts and between the spaced guides and extending below the guides, linkage means forthe swingable upright means, below the spaced guides and having one end thereof pivoted in the press frame above the end of the lower portion of said swingable upright means and having its other end pivoted to the lower portion of the swingable upright means, the linkage means being movable into upright position substantially parallel to the swingable upright means to draw the latter downwardly in closing the press and to hold the head compressed against the buck, and moving outwardly into a position at an angle to the lower portion of the swingable upright means to release COIILPI'GSSIOII and to open the press,and operating means connected with the linkage means to swing the latter in the frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SANFORD J. LOOKED 

